Few people in the security industry can draw on the depth of frontline experience that Phil Smith brings to his role as Security & Operations Director at Oculus Group.
Phil’s career in security spans more than three decades. He spent his first nineteen years working in door security before moving into maritime security at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, where he guarded Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels dockside and was quickly promoted to Security Supervisor. From there, he took on the role of Security Manager for RWE on the Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm project, adding a string of management and health and safety qualifications along the way – including multiple Level 3 management awards and IOSH certification.
When the wind farm project drew to a close, Phil joined Oculus Group in 2015 as Operations Manager, and today he leads the security division as Security & Operations Director. No two weeks are the same. He works closely with clients day in, day out, speaks with his officers on the ground daily, organises the mobile patrol unit, keeps rotas running smoothly and personally prepares the health and safety documentation for every new site, a reflection of his particular expertise in operations and health and safety.
Ask Phil what separates a truly professional security operation from an average one, and his answer is refreshingly simple: well-managed operations, and a happy, loyal team who are willing to go the extra mile when it matters.
Having watched the industry change enormously over 32 years, not least the growing blend of manned guarding with CCTV and remote technology, Phil believes Oculus stays ahead by doing what it has always done: evolving and moving with the times. And the moments that make him proudest? Winning new clients, and the trust that comes with them.
With Phil at the helm of our security operations, clients can be confident their sites are in the hands of someone who has seen it all, from the door to the dockside, and built a career on getting the details right.
